With its No. 3 singles player sidelined with a sickness, the South Burlington High School girls tennis team gutted out a 4-3 win over Rice in the Division I semifinals earlier this week.

"I was really inspired in a close match they were able to handle the pressure," said longtime SBHS coach Jake Agna. "They never gave up and the effort has been great all season."

Surviving one test, the Rebels can secure their title quest against a Champlain Valley squad playing with nothing to lose.

In a rematch of last year's final, top-seeded South Burlington (19-0) aims for the program's 17th crown against rival and two-time defending champion CVU (14-2) in Thursday's championship. The title match, which was originally scheduled for today, is set to begin at 3 p.m. at South Burlington High School.

During the regular season, the Rebels won both tilts with the Redhawks — 5-2 in the opener and 6-1 in Round 2. Agna, however, expects a challenging, exciting showdown.

"It's going to be close and competitive. I could see (CVU) getting better during the season and again at (the individual state tournament)," Agna said. "I keep trying to tell my players the score doesn't always indicate how close it really is."

The Rebels got a taste of a nailbiter in the semifinals, their only 4-3 decision of the spring, when No. 3 singles player Romana Bartosova was out. Bartosova will be back for Thursday's final to join a singles lineup that includes Lajla Badnjevic, Emily Sprague, Sajani Sivakumar and Aster O'Leary.

Jasmina Jusufagic and Anna Wulfson, winners of doubles at the individual tournament last month, and Delany Spink and Taylor Gloyd make up a strong tandem pair for the Rebels.

After back-to-back undefeated seasons, the Redhawks lost 10 players to graduation, making their return to a sixth straight final a bit of a surprise, coach Amy deGroot said.

"Our team has way exceeded our expectations. We are thrilled with their accomplishments," deGroot said. "We don't have an undefeated season to defend … We are delighted to be in the finals and yet determined to give it our best shot.

"We are ready and eager to play. I can't wait."

Kathy Joseph, the individual state champion, headlines CVU's singles group that also includes Leah Epstein, Mackenzie Buckman, Elyse Killkelley and Isabelle Angstman.

Mackenzie Kingston and Maia Bertrand and Erika Barth and Sara Erikson are slated to play doubles for CVU.

Contact Alex Abrami at 660-1848 or aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/aabrami5